Auburn end Eguae steps up as leader

AUBURN -- The rejuvena­tion process along Auburn's de­fensive line won't be easy for Mike Pelton.

The Tigers' newest assistant coach arrived in February with far more questions that answers facing him inside the meeting room. Lombardi Award winner Nick Fairley and four senior counterparts were gone. Only one starter remained.

The rising junior from Fort Worth, Texas, savors every workout opportunity. He is a gifted orator. Teammates say he's seen as a neutral party with no social allegiances, which makes him a powerful, consen­sus-building element.

Oh, and Eguae is quite productive on the field.

His ability to maintain a steady level of effort for drives at a time allowed Eguae to earn the starting job ahead of Mike Goggans last season. He didn't take the promotion to heart, though, and continued to treat Goggans like a valued teammate.

Everyone took notice.

"Nosa is a guy everyone on this team can look up to," said defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker, a rising sophomore. "He does it all on and off the field. I find myself looking at him sometimes and thinking: Is there anything he can't do? Nothing gets to him."

Being a leader isn't for everyone.

Most players improve during their time on the practice field and emerge into positions of social power. Yet learning to en­force behavioral codes and physical expectations re­quires more than seniority.

It requires passion, intel­ligence, awareness and an outgoing nature.

Eguae has all four.

"Leadership qualities are something you're born with and I think I'm bless­ed to become a leader," Eguae said. "If you come out there and do what you have to do to get your job done -- and if you're get­ting better every day -- other people around you going to get better. Those are the types of things I'm trying to do."

Barring injury, Eguae appears to remain Pelton's first choice at strong end. Rising sophomore Corey Lemonier's play this spring has also elicited plenty of praise this spring.

Tackles Ken Carter and Whitaker also appear to be in line for high-profile gigs this fall.

Eguae said he's excited about each of those play­ers, but doesn't spend much time relaying his sentiments.

There is work to be done.

"Even when you're first team during practice, you've got to be the guy who is first in line," Eguae said. "You're the guy ev­erybody is looking at. It's different for a lot of these guys -- for guys like Co­rey, Big Jeff, Kenneth Carter -- they're starting to see I've got to set a tone. I can't just wait and watch an Antoine Carter or Mi­chael Blanc make a play.

"I've got to make a play first."

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Auburn end Eguae steps up as leader

AUBURN -- The rejuvena­tion process along Auburn's de­fensive line won't be easy for Mike Pelton.The Tigers' newest assistant coach arrived in February with far more questions that answers facing him

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